French air traffic controllers strike

Forty percent of flights were canceled on Wednesday because of a strike by French air traffic controllers. They are demanding better working and retirement conditions. The SNCTA union called for the workers to go on strike for two days, with 50 percent of flights being canceled on Thursday. Long-haul flights weren’t affected but two out of every three flights out of Orly were grounded Wednesday.
Workers are striking against plans to change the maximum retirement age from 57 to 59 by 2020, and the union wants a study into the health effects of workers staying employed until 59. Other countries in Europe allow retirement for air traffic controllers at 55 or 56.
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